Van Bronckhorst's appointment was announced on Wednesday, less than two weeks after the sacking of another club icon, Robin van Persie.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst played 249 games for Feyenoord in two periods between 1994 and 1998, and between 2007 and 2010. The former Netherlands captain returned to the club as their manager in 2015 and won five prizes with the club, including the Eredivisie in 2017.
"The club has been a constant thread running through my life. It couldn’t be any other way," Van Bronckhorst said on Wednesday.
"I joined here at the age of seven as a young prospect, ended up playing for Feyenoord for 17 years and, as a coach, was able to win five trophies, whilst always experiencing the bond with the supporters as something truly special."
Van Bronckhorst left the club in 2019 and later served as head coach at Guangzhou R&F, Rangers FC, and Besiktas. The 106-time international also assisted Arne Slot at Liverpool during the 2025-26 season.
"There are so many Feyenoord moments that still give me goosebumps when I think back on them," Van Bronckhorst continued.
"My bond with the club has always remained excellent."
The next level
Van Bronckhorst rejoins the Eredivisie after rivals PSV's three-peat in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The Rotterdam side are also guaranteed to play in the UEFA Champions League, with a second-place finish in the Eredivisie good for direct qualification.
For the former Arsenal and Barcelona defender, the desire to return to Rotterdam became too strong to ignore during talks with the club's new regime, led by general manager Robert Eenhoorn and technical director Devy Rigaux.
"I also noticed that, during my discussions with Robert Eenhoorn and Devy Rigaux, I started to feel that itch of excitement more and more. We have the belief and the feeling that, as a team – together with one another and with the supporters – we can take the club to the next level. I’m already really looking forward to seeing the crowd again at De Kuip and to that match-day atmosphere that you can only really experience there."